How to Build a Crib With Woodwork Plans

Most new babies spend a great deal of time sleeping and playing in cribs.

Although most children will typically only use a crib for a maximum of two or three years, the high cost of many store-bought cribs and cradles can be astonishing to a shopper. In an effort to save money and also lend a more personalized touch, many parents and grandparents choose to build a crib instead. In most cases, only basic woodworking skills are required along with a good woodworking plan that meets federal safety guidelines for child furniture.

Things You'll Need

• Crib plans
• Wood
• Saw
• Clamps
• Screws
• Power drill
• Glue
• Sandpaper
• Paint or stain

Instructions

1. 

   You can design your own crib plans to make the exact crib you dream of!

   Design your own woodworking plans for building a crib. If you have the technical and creative skill, you can design your own woodworking plans on a simple sheet of paper, blueprint or software design programs like CAD that can help in drafting a design to the correct scale and detail. You can even add step-by-step directions to guide the process once you get started. By designing your own plans, you get to build the perfect crib right from your own imagination.

2. 

   A crib's design can be altered slightly to make a unique family heirloom.

   Purchase or download woodworking plans to build a crib. Many carpentry books and magazines offer woodworking design plans for cribs and cradles. There are also hundreds of sites online that offer crib plans. Some plans cost a small fee, but many plans can be found for no charge at all. Look for a plan that is similar to the design you seek, and search for ways you might be able to alter the design to fit your needs and personalize the crib for a special little one.

3. 

   A chisel or other carving tool may be needed for dovetailing or detail carvings.

   Organize the tools you need for the job. Most plans call for a circular saw, but a crib can be built with a regular hand saw as well. You may need a chisel or other tool to carve out notches if you build dovetail joints or pegs for the crib slats. A screwdriver and hardware will also be needed if you plan to attach the sides of the crib with screws.

4. 

   Choose the wood for your crib building project carefully.

   Choose wood that is sturdy and accepts the painting or staining method you desire. A lumber yard or home improvement store associate can make recommendations based on your needs. Inexpensive wood is suitable for a temporary crib but needs to be solid enough to stand up to a toddler. High quality wood choices are best for an heirloom quality crib.

5. 

   Work in a well-ventilated area for building, painting and staining.

   Follow the building plans and all recommended safety guidelines, which call for a tight-fitting mattress, slats no more than 2" apart, corner posts no higher than 1/16", and no design cutouts in the headboard or footboard. Sand the wood smooth, and paint or stain the crib with a low VOC product.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use low VOC paints and stains that won't pose a threat to a baby.

References

• Unique Baby Gear Ideas: Wood Baby Crib Plans
• Plans Now: Baby Crib Plan - Build an Heirloom Baby Crib
• Amazon: Mission Crib Woodworking Plan, Build Your Own